We examined 104 species (13%) of the approximately 784 species of biotically pollinated plants native to Hawai'i and found 14 (13.5%) that have an ultraviolet (UV) floral pattern. However, detailed examination revealed that 32% of the Hawaiian strand species have UV floral patterns, whereas only 8% of the upland species did. All of the flowers with UV patterns measured 1 cm or more in diameter ...

Bees are among the most important pollinators of angiosperm plants. Many bee species show narrow host-plant preferences, reflected both in behavioral and morphological adaptations to particular attributes of host-plant pollen or floral morphology. Whether bee host-plant associations reflect co-cladogenesis of bees and their host plants or host-switches to unrelated host plants is not clear. Rop...

The fruit of the plant Tribulus terrestris is well known as a traditional Chinese medicine with a myriad of reported uses. Herbal medicine preparations are becoming available for many uses including body building and for stimulating spermatogenesis and libido. In addition, the whole live plant causes significant sheep losses in certain regions of Australia when conditions for growth are favoure...

A parsimony analysis was conducted on 319 rbcL sequences, comprising 242 from 194 genera of Leguminosae and 77 from other families. Results support earlier conclusions from rbcL and other molecular data that a monophyletic Leguminosae is part of a Fabales that includes Polygalaceae, Surianaceae, and the anomalous rosid genus Quillaja. Within legumes, results of previous analyses were also suppo...

Biogeographic origins of plant lineages are often reflected in species functional traits, with consequences for community assembly, diversity, and ecosystem function. The climatic and environmental conditions in which species evolved have lasting influence (legacy effects) through phylogenetic conservatism of traits that underlie community assembly and drive ecosystem processes. Legacy effects ...